Red's Newest Build: A Direct-Heat Smoker/Grill

[radioguy]

Red,
Build is looking great. Just a few more items for you to finish up.

I found these grinding disks on a YouTube video. I haven't used any of them yet but they are on my next purchase list. Holes apparently keep it cooler and avoid build up. These are for aggressive grinding. I am always looking for a better longer lasting abrasives.

Grinding disc, CC-GRIND® VIEW, 5" x 7/8, SGP STEELOX VICTOGRAIN®, Ceramic

us.pferd.com

This one is my current favorite

Norton Red Heat R983 CA Coarse Grit Center Mount Plastic Flat Flap Disc

Designed with a premium ceramic alumina and zirconia alumina abrasive blend, the Red Heat R983 coarse grit center mount plastic flat flap disc also features a self-sharpening grinding aid that helps produce fast and cool cutting on hard-to-grind materials. A great option for stock removal and...

www.nortonabrasives.com

RG

 

[seenred]

Red,
Build is looking great. Just a few more items for you to finish up.

I found these grinding disks on a YouTube video. I haven't used any of them yet but they are on my next purchase list. Holes apparently keep it cooler and avoid build up. These are for aggressive grinding. I am always looking for a better longer lasting abrasives.

Grinding disc, CC-GRIND® VIEW, 5" x 7/8, SGP STEELOX VICTOGRAIN®, Ceramic

us.pferd.com

This one is my current favorite

Norton Red Heat R983 CA Coarse Grit Center Mount Plastic Flat Flap Disc

Designed with a premium ceramic alumina and zirconia alumina abrasive blend, the Red Heat R983 coarse grit center mount plastic flat flap disc also features a self-sharpening grinding aid that helps produce fast and cool cutting on hard-to-grind materials. A great option for stock removal and...

www.nortonabrasives.com

RG

Thanks RG!

Those Pferd discs are top of the line for sure - but they're pretty spendy! I'm usually too cheap to spend that much money on consumables. My go-to discs for grinding, cutting and sanding the last couple years has been Benchmark Abrasives. They seem to me to be a good compromise between cost and longevity. I don't think I've ever heard anything about those Norton products...how are their prices?

Which reminds me, I'm probably gonna need to order some flap discs soon...

Red

 

[JC in GB]

End-of-the-week update!

Made more progress the last 2 days. I'm to the stage in a build where most steps go pretty slow. Lots of fabrication of small, hand-made parts that just take time to get right.


I finished framing out the main door.

View attachment 715285


Then started tacking the skin on the door frame.

View attachment 715287


All the skin of the door is tacked together.

View attachment 715288


Test fit the door assembly with the main cabinet body. Fits pretty good!

View attachment 715289


Since I'm pretty happy with how it's fitting up, I'll be ready to fully weld out the door assembly next time I'm in the shop.

View attachment 715290


Then I started working on fabricating handles. I bent some 3/8" round bar to make a pull handle for the cooking grate.

View attachment 715291

View attachment 715292


And I used @civilsmoker 's idea and used a short piece of 1x1" angle iron to make a pull handle for the ash pan.

View attachment 715293

View attachment 715294

View attachment 715295


Next I fabricated a handle for the main door, with a cool touch spring handle.

View attachment 715297


I'm not ready yet to weld it to the door yet, but here's about what it'll look like when it's welded on the front of the door.

View attachment 715298

View attachment 715299

Only handles left on my To-Do list are handles for the top of the coal basket. I haven't figured out yet if there's enough clearance on the top cooking rails to do these handles - I'm still studying that one...

That's all for tonight - more to come!

Red

Wow, just looking better and better. Very nice work sir!!!

JC

 

[seenred]

Wow, just looking better and better. Very nice work sir!!!

JC

Thanks JC!

 

[speedmetal]

Grinding discs

I switched to these years ago and haven't bought a flap disc since.

 

[SmokinEdge]

Well Red, that just looks fantastic so far, nice work for sure. Can’t wait to see it in action.

 

[seenred]

Grinding discs

I switched to these years ago and haven't bought a flap disc since.

I use those sanding discs too! I still like flap discs for heavy grinding and shaping, but those sanding discs are great for fine work - especially smoothing inside corners!

Well Red, that just looks fantastic so far, nice work for sure. Can’t wait to see it in action.

Thanks Brother!


Red

 

[JLeonard]

Don't make it too heavy, the shipping is going to kill me , lol
David

Man seenred dont do anything light weight!
loving the way this is coming together!

Jim

 

[seenred]

Man seenred dont do anything light weight!
loving the way this is coming together!

Jim

Heck, Jim this pit weighs a FRACTION of what that monster of yours weighs!!

I figured your smoker weighed in at over 800 lbs. This one is probably gonna weigh something over 200.

Red

 

[seenred]

Still making progress - although it's slow going. The work left is mostly small parts that all have to be hand cut and/or hand made individually...just takes some time.

I got the cutouts done for the intake dampers. There's one on each side of the cabinet.

I decided to do pinwheel dampers this time. I guess I won't know for sure til I build a fire in it, but I like how they turned out.

Next I fabricated a base and cut and drilled caster plates for the feet.

The base is finished and all welded out. Next was getting the cabinet up on the base and ready to weld it all together.

The casters I bought are 4" tall, which along with the base, will make the cooking grate 36" high.

That's where I quit today. Next up will be welding on the doors and hinges, and fabricating a latch handle for the FB access door. I also still have to cut the opening in the top for the exhaust stack, and fabricate a damper for it. And one of the last jobs will be fabricating a side shelf/pull handle, which I'll mount on the left side of the cabinet.

At that point, I'll be ready to build a fire in it and test it. So it shouldn't be long now!

Thanks for checking it out!

Red

 

[speedmetal]

Looks awesome! Some solid metalwork going on for this project.

 

[seenred]

Looks awesome! Some solid metalwork going on for this project.

Thank you sir!

Red

 

[Winterrider]

Coming along very nicely !

 

[seenred]

Coming along very nicely !

Thanks Brother, so far so good!

Red

 

[ajbert]

I can't wait to see this fired up and burning some meat!

 

[seenred]

I can't wait to see this fired up and burning some meat!

I’m looking forward to that too!

Red

 

[DRKsmoking]

I see lots of progress Joel. Coming along nicely.

David

 

[seenred]

I see lots of progress Joel. Coming along nicely.

David

Good morning David! Slow progress now, but still moving closer!

Red

 

[DRKsmoking]

Good morning David! Slow progress now, but still moving closer!

Red

Good morning, as long as going forward and no glitches. Its all good.

And it is not like it was ordered , so no real timeline or schedule to chase after.

David

 

[seenred]

no real timeline or schedule to chase after.

Yeah, I do like to take my time! The beauty of it being a hobby and not a job!

Red